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Degree

Master of Family and Consumer Sciences (MFCS), Bowling Green State University, Family and Consumer Sciences/food and Nutrition, 2010.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to enhance the understanding of factors associated with the development of positive attitudes toward the efficacy of nutrition as an important training element in the Division I female soccer player. An additional objective was to determine if any significant differences in Nutritional Experience were implicated with respect to subject year in school and conference type. Methods: 147 Division I female soccer players participated in this study by completion of an electronic survey. Survey questions were framed around the Social Cognitive Theory of behavior and were divided into categorical subscales related to 1) Environment (E) 2) Belief and Attitude (B/A), and 3) self-efficacy and enactment (E/E) as reported by each subject. Descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, Pearson Correlation, Forward Multiple Regression, MANOVA, and ANOVA analysis tests were conducted. Results: All correlations between subscales were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.01). The correlation between (B/A) and (E/E) was the strongest association, (r = 0.643) and the subscale of (E/E) exhibited the strongest significant correlation as the most positive influence of diet adherence (p < 0.01). (E/E) was best explained by influences related to the explanation of nutrition-related information to the subject and the effect of team environment on the subject’s personal attitude toward nutrition (p < 0.001). Coach involvement, knowledge of nutrition by the coach, and subject’s self identity and personal perception of the role of nutrition and performance were the best predictors of the (B/A) subscale (p < 0.01). (E) was significantly different (p < 0.01) between conference types and between subject year in school (p < 0.05). Overall, 72% of all subject responses were generally positive toward nutrition-related experiences. Conclusion: Building an environment that is conducive to optimal nutrition practices by collegiate athletes should be based on the improvement of nutrition-related knowledge, the improvement of attitude toward the efficacy and role of good nutrition in optimizing athletic performance, and by using a form of the Social Cognitive Theory to support the use of collegiate nutrition services, resources, and guidelines, as these areas seem to be common antecedents in supporting positive nutrition-related outcomes.

Subject Headings

Nutrition

Keywords

Attitude; efficacy; athlete; nutrition.

Committee / Advisors

Dawn Anderson, PhD (Committee Chair)
Brian Campbell, PhD (Committee Member)
Carrie Hamady, MS, RD, LD (Committee Member)
Rachel Reinhart, PhD (Committee Member)

Pages

80p.

Document number: bgsu1288635314
Permalink: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1288635314

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